Major in English Literature

Major in English Literature

BA,
3-4 years

This is for you if... you would like to combine the study of English with another subject.

Course Description

As part of the University of Leicester’s commitment to being a leading academic institution, we regularly review and update our degrees and modules to ensure that they reflect the most up-to-date research, knowledge, ideas and teaching practices, as well as taking into account student feedback. We also have to take into account the availability of key teaching staff where this will impact on the delivery of the course. As a result, if there are major changes to the course that you have applied for, we will contact you as soon as possible and will ensure that any disruption to your studies is minimised.

Choosing English Literature as a major will allow you to study an
overview of English language and literature from its beginnings all the
way to the present day, learning about some of the greatest works of
English literature in their original context. You will discover how
English language and literature has changed through the centuries, and
engage with the latest critical approaches.

Why Leicester?

Our academics are constantly pursuing innovative approaches to literature - you will benefit from being taught by the very people who are leading their fields.

Each year we organise Literary Leicester, a festival showcasing the best of local and internationally renowned talent. This is your opportunity to learn from, and ask questions of, some of the greatest writers of our time.

The breadth of our modules will take you in unexpected directions while allowing you to focus on your own areas of interest.

Our student drama society LUTheatre presents a programme of new and classic works every year. New writers can see their work performed at the popular Proteus nights.

Course Structure

Year 1

Year 1

In your first year you will be introduced to some core themes and
developments in prose, poetry, and drama, and you’ll be encouraged to
think in new ways about the English language. You will study key
techniques of analysis and criticism, and the ways that literature relates to
culture and history.

Core modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Year 2

In your second year you will study an exciting range of texts and
critical approaches across history. These could include some of the most
influential and widely read texts in the history of English, from
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Milton’s Paradise Lost to Pepys’ diary and Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
You may choose to study the development of medieval literature,
language and culture, or the literature and culture of the sixteenth,
seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, from Renaissance drama to bawdy
Restoration comedy or the experimental novels of the early eighteenth
century. Alongside this, you’ll explore new critical techniques and
theories that try to explain some fundamental relationships and
tensions in English literature – from class, race, and gender to
language and meaning.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year Abroad (optional)

Year Abroad (optional)

If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.

Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our International Office.

Please note that a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.

English at Leicester has links with several European universities, administered through the European Erasmus scheme. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. During your second year at Leicester you will receive appropriate language training.

For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite.

We also have links with some universities outside Europe. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships. We have links with the following universities:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year

Final Year

Your final year is an opportunity to expand your knowledge in the
areas of English that have captured your attention with the option to do
an independently researched dissertation and a range of modules that
conclude the chronological journey through literature and language,
beginning with the Romantics and ending with Postwar to Postmodern
literature.

Restrictions

Teaching and Assessment

For each
of your modules you will typically have one or two lectures and a seminar
each week, along with a number of additional events such as workshops
on research and study skills, learning groups, and introduced film
screenings. Lectures are designed to introduce you to important
debates and contexts for understanding an author’s work. Weekly
seminars, in which a tutor leads a small group of students in
discussion, will allow you to explore a text or topic in depth.

For
your third year dissertation you receive one-to-one tuition across
the term from a tutor with an interest in your chosen subject

You
will be assessed through a combination of essays, group work, oral
presentations, review writing, portfolios, and exams. These
assessments are designed to help you build confidence in a range of
skills and to provide prospective employers with evidence that you
can work effectively both as an independent researcher and as a team
member. Your final degree result will be based on the work you do in the
second and third years of your degree.

You will have regular
meetings with your personal tutor to discuss
progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a
sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether
academic, financial, housing, career or social. Our pastoral
care system is first-rate, and feedback and participation are
encouraged through the Student-Staff Committee, where lecturers and student representatives from all years meet to discuss the issues that affect you.

Other national and international qualifications considered. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year run by our dedicated International Study Centre. The ISC provides academic and English language support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.

Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.

International Qualifications

Fees and Funding

Starting in 2017

£9,250 in your first year. After 2017/18, the tuition fee you pay may increase annually in line with inflation (RPIX) and is subject to government regulations. (RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to all items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.)

Starting in 2017

Starting in 2018

Career Opportunities

All students take part in the Talent Academy, which will introduce you to the resources provided by our Careers Development Service and provide opportunities to gain work experience with leading employers.

Careers

Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering, and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.